Gamecocks on mend during spring drills

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp, shown in a file photo at Clemson last season.

The University of South Carolina football team on Tuesday held its first practice with a media viewing period since the first week of spring practice. There was no 11-on-11 work but still a few interesting moments.

Observations:

• Two key receivers are on the mend in OrTre Smith and Bryan Edwards. Smith was out of his yellow no-contact jersey, which indicates he’s full-go. Edwards was still in yellow but was working with the team drills rather than off to the side with the injured players.

• The team opened with its “cock” drill, which has a defensive and offensive player matched up in a chute with a ball-carrier trying to get through. Usually only linemen, linebackers and tight ends are involved, but Tuesday the receivers and defensive backs were also working on their one-on-one blocking. The drill is also about building toughness.

• During what looked like punt-block work, Edwards was fielding the kicks and didn’t look totally comfortable doing it. Special teams coach Coleman Hutzler also bellowed the phrase “holding is legal” as he worked with players on the finer points of getting free of defenders in punt coverage.

• Reporters were positioned almost on top of defensive line coach Lance Thompson working with his players. Both the attention to the smaller details and the intensity he brings to that spot were readily apparent at that range.

• The open part of practice wrapped up with a circuit of defensive fundamentals. Players rotated between a drill to teach the finer points of throwing off blockers, a drill on dealing with meeting pulling blockers on the edge and one on how to play when unblocked on zone-read plays.

• On the far side of the field, quarterbacks appeared to be working with running backs on their routes while wide receivers were working on catching through contact. The latter drill had coaches batting players with foam cones as they came out of their break with the ball in the air.

• Head coach Will Muschamp appeared to be working with a group of defenders on how to cover wheel routes.

• At one point, team staff came to the sidelines, asking for a yellow jersey for reserve walk-on running back and Wisconsin transfer Caleb Kinlaw.

• Christian Pellage, A.J. Turner and C.J. Freeman were among those in yellow sequestered with the injured group. Freeman and Pellage have been there all spring, and Turner had hamstring issues come up.